A Tribute to Dad Rod
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:57AM 
Gene Veith has posted on his blog a tribute of sorts to our beloved White Horse Inn co-host and compatriot, Dr. Rod Rosenbladt. Click here: Christianity, Culture, Vocation — Cranach: The Blog of Veith
Dr. Veith is asking for testimonials, so be sure to go there and leave one! FYI--Rod is not retiring until next year (2010).
One of my favorite "Dad Rod" moments was when J. I. Packer once said to him: "Rod, you not only have Luther's theology, you embody the very man himself." I couldn't agree more.
Dr. Rosenbladt acquired the nickname "dad" one night long ago when we were at Mike Horton's house in Anaheim watching TBN late on a Sunday night after a live program in Hollywood (for the first ten years or so, the White Horse Inn was broadcast live out of KKLA in Glendale/Hollywood). We always relaxed with lengthy theological discussion and debate, pizza, a few cigars, and some adult beverages. It was great fun! Jan Crouch was cooing about "Daddy Hagin." I don't recall if it was Shane or Mike, but one of them quipped "well if Jan can have her daddy Hagin, we can have a dad Rod." Anyway, the nickname stuck.
Reader Comments (8)
Great story.
It is amazing. Even if one doesn't know very much, if you can quote Luther, they think that you're smart!!
I challenge all, to really study the Lutheran views of the sacraments, and you will really see just how Biblical and rich they are. The Holy Spirit is actually in the sacraments, not along side of them (the Reformed view).
The Reformed view, is that during baptism the parents have the faith that the child will be brought into the cov't. of grace. (It should be noted, that not all that are in the cov't. of grace, are Christians.) A little better than a baby dedication. Not a bad view. But, it is a little weak. The Lutheran view, is that the parents bring the child up for baptism, and trust that God will create saving faith, with the waters of baptism, combined with His Word, (the sacramental union). Please note, that the Holy Spirit is actually in the sacrament of baptism, not along side of it. (God creates faith in little babies, just like he creates faith in us.)
Baptism creates and sustains faith. Peter says in Acts 2:38 & 39, that baptism is, "for you and for your children." John 3:5 says, to be born again, is to "be born of water and the Spirit." Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." 1 Peter 3:20 & 21 says, " in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism."
Baptism also washes aways our sins, Acts 22:16, St. Paul was instructed, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Please notice, "BE BAPTIZED", not get baptized. St. Paul was passive in baptism, not active.)
We don't contend that everyone that gets baptized, gets saved. (That would be going farther than what the Scriptures teach.) We do contend, however, that the waters of baptism, combined with the Word, is A means of grace that God uses to create saving faith. God also saves us, through His word, without baptism. God is the active party in baptism, not us. We are passive in baptism. Lutherans do not view the waters of baptism as an act of obedience, or a work that we do, ala, the Baptist's.
Infant Baptism has ALWAYS been practiced by the church, at least for the first 1500 years of church history. That is, until the heretical anabaptists came along. In the latter years, the southern Baptist's and the decision theology folks, have not baptized infants.
There is no age of accountability taught in the Bible for baptism. Everyone needs to be baptized. Biblical age of accountability is in Ephesians, where we are all "children of wrath." David says in Psalm 51, that he was conceived in sin. St. Paul says in Romans 5, that death came through the first man, Adam, with original sin. The decision theology folks (Arminians), brought up the age of accountability, but it is not Scriptural. (Please see Luthers "Bondage of the Will.)
God does, indeed, create faith in the little babies, just like he does in us, Phil. 1:29.
I don't have the time now. But, the Lutheran view of the Lords supper, is the historical church view. Again, in the supper, the Holy Spirit is in the sacrament, not along side of it.
We view baptism and communion as not acts of obedience, but they are sacraments, where we receive the forgiveness of our sins!
For Lutherans, we believe in the "preservation of the saints." He preserves us with the means of grace, which is the Gospel, found in the Word and the Sacraments.
Luke 18:15-17 says this, "People were also bringing BABIES to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
See, God created faith in these little babies and children. Jesus called the little children, kingdom children. Why should they be denied the chief benefit of the kingdom, which is the baptism for the remission of their sins?
The unborn baby, John the Baptist, leaped in his mother's womb when he heard the Word of God proclaimed (Lluke 1:41-44). God creates faith in the little babies, just like He does in us.
Again, we don't just dedicate our babies to God in baptism, we trust His promisies, that baptism is a means of grace, where He will create saving faith in the child.
Hence, the Lutheran view of the Holy Spirit within the sacraments, not along side of them. We stress the power of God, in these marvelous tools that He uses, His body, blood, bread & wine, and the waters of baptism, combined with the Word, as life giving sacraments.
Being a Lutheran, allows one to view the Gospel in the sacraments, in 3-d pictures, rather than in black and white. Again, it's right out of the Bible!